Can cleaning and turning device.



F. PlLLEY.

QAN CLEANING AND TURNING DEVICE.

, APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17, 1913.

1,299,927 Patented A r. 8,1919.

. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2- Q Q? Q9 1 h [NV/5N TOR.

ATTOR F. PILLEY.

CAN CLEANING AND TURNING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. ms.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

FRANK PILLEY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CAN CLEANING AND TURNING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, EH9.

Application filed January 17, 1918. Serial No. 212,322.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK PILLEY, citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Cleaning and marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to can cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for use in creameries or other plants where cans of cream are received and must be treated quickly in considerable numbers to insure the delivery of all the contents. While I have in the following specifications referred specifically to cream cans because of the especial adaptability of the apparatus for'removing thick cream from the inside walls of the can so that it may be delivered into a receiving tank, I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to apparatus for cleaning this particular type of cans as it is the principal object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein cans,0r other containers, may after their contents have been removed be forwarded in an inverted position automatically, treated by a blast of steam or other fluid and ultimately delivered from the device in anupright position.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and sanitary apparatus of this character particularly adapted for the treating of milk cans of the ordinary or standard type, comprising valves which may be opened and closed by cams moving through the device, to permit discharge of steam or other fluid from the valves only when the cans are in a position to receive full benefit from the cleaning fluid.

In accomplishing this object I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of a can cleaning and turning apparatus constructed according to thepresent invention.

Fig. H is a plan view of the same,

Fig. III is a transverse vertical section of a part of the apparatus, on the line 111 411 of Fig. 11.

Fig. IV is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus on the line IVIV of Fig. 11.

Fig. V is an enlarged transverse section of the guideway on the line V-V Fig. 11.

Fig. VI is a detail sectional View of a steam valve used in connection with the device.

Fig. VII is a longitudinal section of the valve, particularly illustrating the discharge ports.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:-

1 designates a receiving tank or vat into which cans of cream or other liquid may be emptied and into which the cans may drain While being forwarded to a delivery point.

Mounted adjacent one side of the tank, so that it is conveniently accessible, is a guideway or track comprising horizontally spaced, parallel, rails 23 supported by the opposite side walls 45 of the tank and spanning the latter so that cans forwarded along the track, as presently described, may drain into the tank. At the receiving end of the guide-way the rails are curved outwardly to form a mouth 6, so that the cans may be easily guided thereinto and supported by the guideway at the front of the mouth is a strainer 7, through which the contents of the cans may be poured into the tank. From the strainer, the rails continue in parallel relation to their opposite ends, and after leaving the tank, are inclined downwardly to an inverting device and conveyer, presently described..

The guideway rails 23 comprise horizontal base flanges 88 and outer, upwardly and inwardly extended flanges 9-9 which, with the base'fianges, form a guideway for supporting cans 11, particularly those of a type comprising necks having flared endslO, for which the apparatus is particularly adapted; the said rails being so arranged in order that the cans may not be tipped or moved from the guideway until they have "passed entirely across the tank and have been properly steamed.

Extending transversely across the guideway at spaced intervals, are tie rods 12 whereby the guide rails are held rigidly in spacedrelation and braced'from thetank: the said extended beyand r rails so that their ends may be seated on and fixed to the Walls of the tank to make the guideway substantially rigid.

Supported by the cross rods 12, parallel with and intermediatethe siderails 2-3 are rails 13-13 upon which the cans are slidably supported during their travel through the guideway; the said rails being supported slightly above the horizontal level of the base flanges 8-8 of the side rails so that the cans are not normally supported on the flanges, the latter only acting as guides to prevent the cans from tipping during their travel across the tank.

Extending adjacent the upper edge of the tank is a steam supply pipe 15 wherefrom. at intervals equal to the outer diameter of the cans for which-the device is constructed, leader pipes 16 are extended, and mounted on each of the leader pipes is a valve 17; preferably of the type shown in my copending application filed by me on or about January 11, 1918, Serial No. 211,404., whereby steam or other fluid may be discharged into the cans as they pass thereover. The valves 17 are spaced at such intervals that after a can has been placed in the guideway,

above the first valve, a second can when moved to position, will forward the first can from the first valve to a similar position above the second valve, and a third can when moved into the guideway will likewise advance the first and second cans to receive steam respectively from the third and second valves while thethird can covers the first valve. As the cans are fed continuously into the guideway they are successively moved over the valves and finally delivered into the inclined runway and slide therealong to the inverting device.

The form of valve which I refer to comprises a slightly tapered hub portion'20, provided at one end with an internally threaded socket 21 for receiving a leader from the steam supply pipe and at its opposite end with an extended shank 22, which 1s fixed by a clamp device 23 to the frame rail 3 to retain the valve in proper position beneath the guideway.

The valve hubs are disposed centrally between the rails 13-13 and beneath the 'guideway and revolubly fitted thereon are 27-27 and 28-28, all of which are formed integrally with the sleeves and are of such length that they will extend into the path of cans being advanced through the guideway and will be engaged thereby to cause the sleeves to be moved or revolved on their respective hubs. In the present instance the arms are made of such length that the sleeves are caused to move one-quarter revo lution each time a wall of the can neck moves into and from contact therewith.

In order that successive movements of the valve sleeves may alternately open and close their respective valves, I provide the arms 27-27 with discharge channels 29-29 which are adapted to move into and from registration at their inner ends with discharge ports 30 opening outwardly from the hub sockets.

With the valve parts so constructed and assembled, in connection with the steam sup ply pipe as shown, and the valve sleeves initially set in proper position with the unchanneled arms 28 extending into the path of cans that may be forwarded through the guideway, it is apparent that as the forward wall of the neck of the first can is moved into the guideway it engages the arm of the first valve sleeve and rotates the sleeve sulficiently to move the channeled arm 27 to a vertical position and the channel therein into registration with the discharge port of the hub, and steam will be permitted to discharge into the can.

As the second can is moved into position, the first can will be advanced from position over the first, valve and will assume a similar position over the second valve, but as it is forwarded the rear wall of the can neck engages the arm 27 of the first valve and revolves the sleeve toclose the steam discharge port and the steam will be out off during the interval that the valve is uncovered. Movement of the first can to position over the second valve howeveropens the second valve similarly as it had opened the first valve and the can receives a second discharge of steam. The second can likewise, again opens the first valve by engagemect with the arm 28 and this can receives its initial charge of steam. The operation of each of the valves is identical and each can forwarded through the guideway opens the valve as it moves into position thereover and closes the valve when it moves from receiving position. In this manner all of the valves are closed when uncovered and only opened when there is a can in position to receive the steam that may be discharged therefrom.

The relative radial arrangement of the arms 27-27 and 28-28 is such that the angle the arm 28 makes with the arm 27 and the arm 28 with the arm 27 will, on account of the hub being mounted below the track, when a can is moved against either the arm 27 or 28 cause the channeled arms to assume a vertical position so that steam is discharged directly into the. can; the length of the arms and their inclination relative to the channeled arms is dependent upon the character of the Cans being cleaned.

By the time the cans have reached the inclined part of the guideway they are suificiently steamed, and it is then desired to turn them to an upright position. I"his I accomplish by the following means: At the discharge end of the guide way is a frame 35 which supports the lower ends of the rails 23 and also a vertically adjustable, horizontal bar 36 which extends across the path of cans that move down the inclined ways so that it will engage the can mouths.

Also supported by cross beams 37 forming a part of the frame 35, above and slightly in advance and parallel with the bar 36 is a bar 38, and'in 'alinement with the guideway, on the side of the bar 38 opposite the bar 36 is a receiving or conveyer table 40 also supported by parts of the frame 35, into Wh1ch the cans are ultimately delivered; the arrangement of the guideway and cross bars being such that when a can is moved into the-inclined ways it slides, under theforce of gravity, therealong and its mouth engages thecross bar 36' This causes the can to over-balance so that it falls forwardly against the cross bar 38 and turns thereover and is delivered in an upright position onto the conveyer table.

T'he conveyer table comprises a number of closely spaced, parallel rollers 41, 'revolubly supported at their opposite ends in inclined rails 4H5, so placed that as the cans are delivered thereonto, they will move under their own weight over the rollers and then preferably be discharged at the lower end of the roller conveyer onto an inclined guideway 46.

To prevent the cans from falling from the turning-frame I provide thelatter with back and side Walls 4748 respectively against which the cans may fall as they are turned,

- and thereby be retained in an upright position on the conveyer.

In order that the cans may be properly turned, I provide for vertical and horizontal adjustment of the cross bars 36 and 38 the bar 36 being supported at {its 0 posite ends and is horizontally adjustable rdlative to the guideway, on bolts 4949 that extend from blocks 50 which in turn are vertically adjustable on bolts supported by flanged members 52 fixed to vertical legs 53- forming a part of the frame 35.

The rail 38 is likewise supported at its opposite ends in a horizontally adjusted position by bolts 54-54:' which are fixed in poured therefrom into the tank and the can placed in an inverted position on the guideways. As the cans are emptied they are moved into the guideway and are successively advanced over the steam valves and over the turning bars and delivered in an upright position after being thoroughly steamed, onto the conveyer whereby they are conducted to the washer and sterilizer (not shown).

It is apparent that any number and various forms of valves may be used in connection with the device and that various forms of uideways may be made to receive cans of iflerent design than those here shown, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is also apparent that by use of the present 'device each can receives the same amount of steaming and that there can be no possibility of a can being removed before it has been thoroughly and sufliciently steamed.

It is also noted that by use of the present device there is a saving of time and labor, as all the valve parts operate automatically and only workmen at the receiving and discharge ends of the device are necessary to take care of the cans that are delivered therethrough.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new therein. and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. In a. can cleaning device, an inclined way provided with side rails having inwardly projecting flanges to receive the top flanges of an inverted receptacle, an abutment at the end of the way and substantially in line with flhe floor thereof, a can tilting bar, spaced from and above the abutment, means beyond the abutment to receive the tilted cans as they pass over the can tilting bar and means for adjusting the bar with respect to the abutment.

2. In a can cleaning device an inclined Way provided with side rails having in-' 

